help identifying a bike that is being purchased

[miken5678]

in regards to rims i found this site

http://www.central-wheel.co.uk/rims/rims.html

from there i went to

http://www.central-wheel.co.uk/rims/mor ... d_rim.html

where it states they took akront tooling.. I am sitting here looking at cross cuts of the rim itself and wondering where to even start..

i dont need the lightest or the most expensive just something thats reliable/durable and most importantly wont rust and require rechroming..



what is the deal with the inner and outermeasurements? It makes me think i could possibly put on a 3.5 inch wide tire on the top left rim as long as the tire bead would squish into the 1.60 area? if there is a website that breaks this down to get me up to speed its appreciated.

[DesmoDog]

Google Buchanan's Spoke, go to their website, and order two WM2 Excel flanged rims. Tell them they are for a Ducati single, order the spokes too, and be done with it.

I've tried to mix and match and piece things together to save money before and in the end it's not worth the hassle. Spokes holes are at the wrong angle, or the wrong size, etc... just spend the money, do it right, and you'll be happy.

Somewhere I have a link to a page that shows the rim sizes and what size tires are recommended to use with them... I'll try to find it and add it later.

BTW - you could also get the flangeless Excels if you don't mind the logo they have on them. The flanged rims haven't got the logo, the flangeless (less expensive) rims do. To each his own but I think the logo looks, um, well... I'm going with the flanged rims.

This isn't a wheel from a single but it is an Excel rim with stainless spokes;


EDIT: Found the wheel info site:

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/WheelTab.htm

Oops, I guess they call them shouldered rims, not flanged;
http://www.buchananspokes.net/products/ ... m_rims.asp


Aforementioned logo. Doesn't bother some people. I hate it. It's on the rim twice on each side (I think)

[Daniil]

Craig, you are correct ref the logos. There are two on each side. I like them and don't mind, especially if you consider the fact that EXCEL is the OEM supplier for the current Sport Classic Ducati line and their logos are printed on the modern DUCATIS in exact same way from the factory. I would probably hate Yoshimura logos on my Duc though Here is a pic of my front wheel. Dan

[DesmoDog]

Craig, you are correct ref the logos. There are two on each side. I like them and don't mind, especially if you consider the fact that EXCEL is the OEM supplier for the current Sport Classic Ducati line and their logos are printed on the modern DUCATIS in exact same way from the factory.

Therein lies the rub - I don't like the rims looking like they are current parts... and why red? If they had at least done them in black I probably could have lived with it.


I laced up a set of black Excel rims for a friend's Sport Classic and didn't mind the logo on them at all. The yellow logo fit in with the yellow bike, and somehow they didn't seem so obvious on the wider rims.

[kmev]

I hate the red Excel logos, too. When I was truing the wheel the red started wiping off with a little lacquer thinner I was using to remove the sharpie marks. I haven't taken the time to wipe the logos off completely, but I can't imagine it will be too hard.

I chose the flangless because I hate how water sits inside the shoulder of flanged rims.

[Pete]

The gold rims on my bike are Sun rims. They are available from Buchanans. http://www.buchananspokes.net/categories/rims_sun.asp They are shoulderless rims and available anodized in Black, Gold, Red, and Blue as well as normal aluminum. As if you needed more choices.

[Daniil]

Trust me, anyone who knows the bikes, can tell modern rims from vintage, logos or not. The fact that you are considering EXCEls for your bike, tells me you are not in the concourse restoration crowd anyway. And you are right, yellow goes with yellow, and so does red with red. Maybe I would not like these on a black or silver bike. As far as rubbing the logos off goes, it looks like the rim is clearcoated or has some sort of a sealant, not just bare aluminum. It may be me though, I have not looked that close, as mike bike is under a cover now.

[miken5678]

well the bike arrived alive... needless to say I got a warning/headsup call an hour before drop off at 9:30pm. Engine side case missing and on another truck. with a promise to get to me... we shall see.

needless to say the one remaining shock was off so the rear tire was off the rim and binding in the rear of the frame making it impossible to roll.. put the shock back on and still had issues so i got my hacksaw and started to saw the tire off..

fine and dandy until you hit the steel cords near the bead... i ended up getting my dremel and mooching the electrical outlet in front of my apt complex.. sitting there right in front of the main door.. black tire skids from sliding it over.. needless to say the cutoff wheel was 10X better than a hacksaw..

so i roll it down the sidewalk.. front tire ok but flat and the rear metal on pavement(not original).. needless to say a little noisy and more than a few dogs started to bark..

I had the bright idea of wheeling it up the stairs..(3 flights) however with a flat front tire it really doesnt roll.. and the weight of the bike with the angle didnt want me risking it especially at 11pm with everyone in bed.. so i rolled her over to a corner of the lot and across the mimic put put gold course..(mucho quieter than metal on pavement) and wrapped her up with some visquine and tape,,, slight sprinkle and a cold spell comming.. well not to cold atelast for fl... hopefully i can get down there inthe next day or so and yank off the wheels front end and motor and get them up in my apt... somedays you really wish you lived on the first floor.

[miken5678]

oh shit almost forgot..

the original brand new truck had a meeting with a telephone pole up north which caused them to use an older diesel.. apparently they made it here followed me over and parked..

got the bike off and went back to do a u turn and they stop.. meanwhile im in the corner of the office area cutting the tire off and after about 30 minutes he comes walking back stating the transmission is out of fluid and dead.. bright idea to get some atf.. so I drive the guy to walmart and tried to explain to him if its out of fluid chances are most likely that the clutches are fried


needless to say as i sit here they are sleeping in the truck trans full of fluid and still not working.. they are crossing there fingers hoping a mechanic will be able to fix it as it sits.. good luck..

[Pete]

Hi Mike,

I am glad you received your Ducati. I admire your willingness to tackle this project from a third floor apartment! Good luck with the restoration. Don't forget to post pictures.

Pete